Open rolling shelf for filing



A. LANG 2,926,979

OPEN ROLLING SHELF FOR FILING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 MLHW w w am a 5 m 2 a 0 7, J (rY I l III: a J I Z 7/ March 1, 1960 Filed April 9, 1957 k wi March 1, 1960 A. LANG 2,926,979

OPEN ROLLING SHELF FOR FILING Filed April 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7 ready reference.

This invention relates to filing cabinets and more specifically to a new and novel type of open rolling shelf which, when suitably housed, would provide accommodation for filed materials and hold them available for It is an object of the present invention to provide a shelf, mounted in a novel manner in a suitable housing so as to permit what is commonly known as side filing at eye level and higher, hence greatly increasing the efficiency of any given filingarea.

More particularly it is an object of this inventionto provide a shelf with vertical ends mounted in a suitable housing on an adaptation of what is commonly known as a progressive suspension system, so that the said shelf may be rolled into and out of said suitable'housing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide one removable panel that may be located between said vertical shelf ends on either side of the said shelf surface;.and also to provide one or more followers that may be attached to said shelf and used to retain filed materials in an upright position. i

This invention comprises the novel structure and combinationof parts hereinafter described and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to in the detail description which follows show:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with the shelf ex- United States Patent Patented Mar. 1, 1960 which comprises a bottom flat surface 2 and rear vertical end 3 opposite front vertical end 4 to which is affixed a suitable handle 5 whereby the shelf assemblage 1 may be easily withdrawn or returned to housing 6.

The shelf has a removable side panel 7 that maybe located on either side of shelf surface 2 by inserting tabs 8 into tab housings 9 located on vertical ends 3 and 4. It should be noted the sides of tab housings 9 are composed of open upper portions 10 and lower closed portions 11.

The follower 12 attaches to surface 2 by directing locking tab 13 into shelf slot 14 and allowing tension spring 15 to draw locking shoe 16 against the interior wall of track 17 thereby moving said tab 13 into locked position.

Track 17 is formed along the top of removable side panel 7 in such mannerto provide a lateral slot 18 extending the entire length of said side panel 7.

The Z-angle reinforcing members 19 are welded to the bottom of shelf surface 2, and projecting ledges 1% fit between rollers 20 of suspension arms 21 that ride in support suspension channels 22 that are attached to the inupper. lateral portions of said channels 22 and the interior of housing 6 as shelf assemblage 1-is withdrawn from and returned to said housing 6. This type of progressive suspension system, with the exception of the modification hereinbefore described, is well known in the art and hence further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

tended from the housing unit. Housing is indicated by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a top plan view withthe shelf extended from its housing unit. Housing is indicated by broken lines.

Figure 3 is an enlarged isometric detail view of the followers tab in locked position through shelf slot.

Figure 4 is an enlarged isometric. detail view of the followers plunger shoe in the track of the removable side panel.

Figure 5 is an enlarged isometric detail view of the re movable side panels tab in locked position in tab housing.

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the shelf extended from its housing unit. Housing is indicated by broken lines.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the removable side panel.

Figure 8 is an isometric view of the basic shelf with vertical ends.

Figure 9 is an isometric view of the Z-bar reinforcing and suspension angles.

Figure 10 is an isometric view of the front and rear subreinforcing members.

Figure 11 is an exploded isometric view of the shelf front and hardware.

Figure 12 is an isometric view of the follower.

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line a--a of Figure 1, not including any parts shown above flat shelf surface.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 1 designates generally the shelf assemblage of this invention The underside of shelf 2 is further reinforced by welding additional] front plate. 25 and rear plate 26 to the underside of reinforcing Z-angle members 19 as illustrated in Figure 13. y

It is important to note that vertical end 25a overlaps a portion of and is welded to the exterior of vertical end 2a. Cover face plate 27 fits over the entire front face and sides of said vertical ends 25a and 2a as a finishing panel. These parts assembled together with necessary hardware compose what is referred to'as vertical front end 4.

Vertical rear end 3 is composed of vertical end 26a that overlaps and is welded to a portion of the exterior of vertical end 2b.

The vertical ends 25a and 26a welded to the exterior of the vertical ends 2a and 2b respectively as outlined above provide for a maximum amount of shelf stability and rigidity as said shelf is subjected to operating loads.

A pair of stops 28 are welded to the underside of surface 2 and located in such position to engage with suspension cross brace 29 when shelf assemblage 1 is fully extended from housing 6, thus preventing any further withdrawal of said shelf assemblage 1 from suspension system and hence from said housing 6.

Side panel 7 is attached to front and rear vertical ends 3 and 4 by inserting locking tabs 8 through openings 10 into tab housings 9 and then allowing hook portions of said tabs 8 to drop down behind lower closed portions 11 as illustrated in FigureS.

Conversely, side panel 7 may be removed from said vertical ends 3 and 4 by raising hook portions of tabs 8 above lower closed portions 11 of tab housings 9, thereby releasing said tabs 8 and hence allowing their ready removal through openings 10 from said tab housings 9.

Track 17 has openings 30 so formed and located as to facilitate the insertion or removal of follower shoe 16 into or out of said track 17.

After follower shoe 16 has been properly inserted through opening 30, the lateral slot 18 allows the posi- Follower 12 is attached to shelf surface 2 and panel side 7 by placing hand through grasping hole 31; and the thumb or other suitable finger is used to depress plunger button 32, thus actuatin g 'plung er rod 33 to.which is attached shoe 16, forwardthrough top rolled edge of said follower 12 which project'sfsaid locking shoe 16 entwardly from rear. of said follower 12. U f.

Locking shoe 16 is then positioned inside track 17 as outlined above and follower 12 isrn'oved into desired position; then follgwer lockingtab 13 is inserted into shelf slot 14 and plunger button 32 is released, thereby altowing spring 15 to draw locking shoe 16 firmly against the interior .wall of track 17., This actio n'pulls follower locking tab .13 toward sidepa nel fl and the hook nature of said tab 13 looks said hook' portion securely in place undcrshelfsurfacel. v v

It should be noted slots 34 reinforcement plates 25 and 26 are of sufiicient size and located in such manner so as to not allow said plates 25 and 2 6 to interfere with the intended use 'of follower locking tab 13 when engaging slot 14- in shelf 2.

The invention which I have herein shown and described shelf in a housing, on an adaptation 'of 'a progressive suspension system, provides a fiat surface suitable foracin the flat shelf, and a spring on the follower which pulls the follower toward the side panel and holds the hook in engagement with the underside of the shelf.

4. Ina device according to claim 1 in which the means by which the removable side panel may be located on either side of the flat shelf comprises tab housings procommodating filed materials and accessible from the side that may be withdrawn from or returned to said housing and located and eifectivelyfused at eye level and higher. While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understoodthat such changes" shall be within the spirit and'scope lof the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In a device of the class described and in combination, a transversely slotted flat shelf with front and rear vertical ends, a removable side panel capable of being located on either side of said fiat shelf between said vertical front and rear ends and having a track andlateral slot formed along its top edge and at least one adjustable follower having a locking shoe insertable and 's lidable in said lateral slot and having on its bottom edge at.

least one tab insertable in a slot in the flat shelf.

2. In a device according to claim 1, in which the follower has a spring actuated plunger at its top edge, a locking shoe on the end of the plunger and located in said track, and a spring acting on the follower and the track and pressing the locking shoe against a'wall ofsaid track.

3. In a device according to claim 1, in which the tab jecting from the inner faces of the ends, and interlocking tabs on the ends of the side panel insertable in side faces of said, tab housings.

s. In a device or the crass assumed, a drawer compris-fl rear vertical ends, and downwardly extending longitudinal flanges on its sides, 'a removable side panel changeable from, one side to the other of said flat shelf, and a progressive suspension system on which the drawer is secured andwliich includes a pair of support channels each of;

which is offset to form a longitudinal recess on the outside surface of the support'channel, the longitudinal flange on the corresponding side of the flat shelf 'overlapping therefcessed part of said support channel andslidable in the recess therein. 7 Racial-ta Cited in'the file brings saat UNITED STATES PATENTS 690,869 McNeal Ian. 7, 1902 1,162,798 Morton Dec. 7, 1915 1,286,374 'McDonald' 1 Dec. 3, 1918 1,409,160- Ehler Mar. 14, 1922 1,418,324 OConnor June '6, 1922 1,910,689 Gronberg May'2 3, 1933 1,911,554 Davis May'30, 1933 1,929,095 Hutchings Oct;'3-, 1933 1,984,485 Kotcher Dec. 1'8, 1934 2,169,562 Lombardin'i; Aug-'15, 1939 2,257,536 Roycroft Sept. 30, 1941 2,336,572 Schussler Dec; '14, 1943 2,692,811 Page Oct. 26, 1954 2,701,174 Franks fFeb. 1,-"1'955 2,746,457 Musaochia May 22, 1956 

